Compound applying machine



Dec. 1, 1936. w CAMERON 2,062,863

COMPOUND APPLYING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 7, 1955 5 sheeis-sheet 1 Dec. 1, 1936. w CAMERON 2,062,863

COMPOUND APPLYING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. '7, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 1, 1936. w, CA E N 2,062,863

COMPOUND APPLYING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 7, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 1, 1936. w. CAMERON COMPOUND APPLYING MACHINE 5 SheetsSheet 4 Original Filed Oct. 7, 1933 Dec. 1, 1936. w CAMERON 2,062,863

COMPOUND APPLYING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 7, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 :fim Ea 1M 8+ F 0.

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5.9'[ /%T 7 lllli ii a? a 12 6a 12 1a 6a 66 63 12 vl'nuezz'zfbr" /10-? willz'anaCaiwow Patented Dec. 1, 19335 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,062,863 COMPOUND APPLYING William Cameron, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Cameron Can Machinery 00., Chicago, lll., a

corporation of Illinois Application October '1, 1933, Serial No. 692,707 Renewed June 22, 1935 15 Claims. (01. 113-30) This invention pertains to methods and apparatus for the lining of can ends with fluid compounds such as liquid rubber or some other suit- Various other objects and advantages of the invention are inherently possessed thereby and should become apparent from a perusal of the following specification.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the invention. All the other figures are additional views of the same embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of a portion of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on the same line 5-5 to illustrate another position of the apparatus.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary plan view of the compound lining station, no can end being present.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the staggered line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a bottom view of the transfer die shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view of the transfer die on the line llll of Fig. 10.

Fig. '12 is a vertical sectional view on the line l2|2 of Fig. 3 showing the transfer die applying compound to a can end.

Fig. 13 is a vertical section of a can end show--. ing it with the compound applied and the end thereafter curled.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is provided a frame consisting of two pedestals I and 2 connected rigidly together by a hollow beam 3, the pedestal I preferably carrying a driving motor 4 for the entire apparatus and means for curling the edges of the can ends after they have had the compound applied to them, while the other pedestal carries the compound applying equipment.

The apparatus for applying the compound consists essentially of a tank to hold the liquid compound, an applicator to be submerged in the liquid and raised therefrom to apply a small quantity of the compound on a transfer die, and a transfer die which thereafter transfers to the upper surface of a can end the compound which was deposited on it by the applicator. These essential portions of the mechanism are in the present embodiment provided in duplicate, there being, .as shownin Fig. 4, two tanks 5 and 6 in which the compound is retained to a level indicated by the lines I. The tanks are provided with applicators 8 and 9, respectively, which reciprocate vertically in the tanks. For example. Fig. 5 shows the applicator 8 consisting of an upwardly tapered ring like member ll of a size and shape corresponding to the caps to be lined and adapted, when it rises from the bath of compound, to apply compound to the lower face of the narrow similarly shaped die I2, such as is shown in Figs. 10 and 11, this being'the portion of the trahsfer die which picks up compound to be applied to the margins of a can end.

.fihe applicator itself consists of a bridge l3 carrying the upwardly projecting ring it "and having upwardly extending arms l4 which surround the reduced portions it of the lifting posts l6. Thesearms are slidably mounted on the posts between the nuts I! and the springs ill,

the latter abutting against washers l9. The tank 5 itself is carried by the frame members 2| and 22. a v

The die for transferring compound from the applicator to the can end itself comprises the contact portion 12 depending from the base portion 23, carried beneath a yoke 24 which is suspended between brackets 25 slidably associated with the side frame members 2! and 22.

.',Theyoke 24 carries four stop screws 26, 21, 28 and 29 which may be adjusted vertically and then locked by their associated lock nuts 30, to limit adjustably the upward movement of the applicator as it emerges from the compound. C0- acting with each of the above mentioned stop screws are studs rigidly carried by the applicator, such as the studs 3| best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. It is intended that the stop screws 26 to 29.

inclusive, shall be so adjusted that the applic'a-fi tor will not actually-strike the transfer die 23 but rather will just approach it closely enough so that there will be applied to the die a sumc ent quantity of the compound for transfer to the can end. Spacing the two parts in this manner prevents the compound from'being squirted outwardly as would occur if the applicator actu-- ally struck the die. Also by this adjustability feature a measured amount of the compound may be applied to the transfer die.

The adjustable stop screws also ensure the positioning of the applicator in perfectly parallel relationship with the transfer die so that the layer of compound applied to the transfer die will be of even thickness all the way around.

The corresponding studs acting as stop posts on the other applicator are indicated in Fig. '3 as 3|. As shown particularly in Fig. 5, the applicator ring II is detachable from the carrying bridge. By removing the screws 32 thus this portion of the applicator may be renewed from time to time, if necessary, or it may be replaced by an applicator ring of a different size to accommodate the treatment of can ends of various sizes. The ring is hollow and narrow to facilitate submerging the applicator and draining excess compound from it as it emerges from the bath.

The transfer die shown in cross section in Figs. 11 and 12 is recessed to form the peripheral depending rim on the lower edge of which the compound is carried. On the interior of the die there are disposed a plurality of slidable stripper pins 33 yieldingly urged downwardly by springs 34, the tension of which may be regulated by screws 35, for the purpose of disengaging can ends from the die after the compound has been applied thereto. 12. The normal position 'of these plungers 33 is shown in Fig. 11. Each of the plungers has an enlarged shoulder 31 at its upper end which seats in the bottom of the recess 38 in the die to limit the downward movement of the plunger. The annular rim or die 23 is itself connected to the die carrying bridge by means of screws 39, so that the die itself may readily be removed and replaced by another die of the same size or of another size. To facilitate accurate positioning of the die on the bridge, dowels 4| are threaded into the bridge and project into appropriate dowel holes in the dies themselves.

The apparatus for reciprocating the transfer dies will now be described. Referring to Fig. 1, the motor 4 drives a shaft 42 which, through suitable bevel gears. drives a horizontally extending shaft 43 which carries a cammember 44- splined on the shaft. The member 44 carries a crank pin 45 which is connected by a connecting rod 46 with an arm 41 fixed on a shaft 48 which is journaled on the rear side of the pedestal 2 as viewed in Fig. 1. The opposite end of the shaft 48 carries fixed thereupon another arm 49 which is bifurcated and terminates in two arms 5| and 52 (see top of Fig. 3). These two arms are pivotally connected to rods 53 and 54 which pass slidably through sleeves 55 and 56 pivotally connected by pins 51 and 58 to a slidable carriage generally indicated as 59 and which carries integrally therewith the die supporting bridges 24. The pins 51 and 58 extend from the outside through slots in the frame members 2| and 22 to engage with the carriage. As indicated in Figs. 5, 6, and 4, this carriage at its opposite longitudinal sides has projections 8| which extend into cooperating slide grooves 62 in the frame 2|, whereby the carriage 59 may he slid back and forth within the grooves 6| from right to left as viewed in Fig. 4, or from top to bottom as viewed in Fig. 3. As the carriage is moved Such a can end 36 is indicated in Fig.

back and forth it carries along with it the two di supporting bridges.

On opposite sides of the sleeves 55 and. 58 th are, surrounding the operating rods 53 and compression springs 63 abutting the ends of the sleeves and held under adjustable tension by lock nuts 64. The carriage therefore is reciprocated not directly by the rods 53 and54 but indirectly through the compression spring 83. For limiting the reciprocation of the carriage so as to accurately align the transfer dies with the applicators and can ends at each end of its movement the carriage is provided at opposite sides with raised abutments 65 which will abut against the adjustable stop screws 66 carried by the frame, preferably on overhead cross members 61 and 68. By means of these stop screws the limits of movement of the carriage may be accurately adjusted so that the dies will be located in proper position to perform their functions of picking up compound in one extreme position and delivering it on to the can ends at the other extreme position.

The apparatus for raising and lowering the applicators will now be described. The shaft 43 carries another cam 69 which operates by means of the cam follower II a lever 12 pivoted upon a trunnion 10, the lever being connected by means of a connecting rod 73 to a cross head 74 vertically slidable inappropriate grooves of any suitable construction provided in the pedestal 2 or carried thereby. The spring .15 connected by a pin 16 to the pedestal and by another pin 11 to the connecting rod 13 keeps the cam follower 1| constantly engaged with its associated cam.

The cross head 14 is provided with two arms 78 and 19 (see Fig. 2) which carry the adjustable abutment screw's 8| and 82, each adapted to engage and lift a post 83 depending from its cross bar 84 or 85, connecting the lower ends of posts l6. Compression springs 86 surround the posts between the arms 84 or and the bottom of the compound tanks 5 or 6. Each pair of lifting posts 5 when moved downwardly by its springs 88 submerges its applicator in the compound bath and when raised by the cross head lifts the applicator from the bath to apply the adhering compound to its transfer die. These lifting rods do not contact the compound itself, being carried entirely in the side Walls of the compound tanks. It is understood, of course, that the tanks themselves remain stationary, being supported in the stationary frame members 2| and 22;

It should be apparent that at each revolution of the shaft 43 both applicators will be submerged in and lifted out of their respective baths twice while the die carriage makes a complete round trip back and forth across the machine. On one upstroke of the cross head, compound will be applied to the transfer die which at that time is located over its own applicator. While the compound is being applied to this die the other die is transferring its compound to a can end. On the next upstroke of the cross head the die which previously was transferring compound to a can end will have moved back over its own compound tank and will thereupon receive an application of compound from its associated applicator. transferring compound on to a can end. Since the die carriage does not have a vertical movement it is necessary that each can end be lifted into contact with a transfer die, and the mechanism for accomplishing this movement will now be described.

At this instant the other die is then The can ends are removed in succession from a hopper 9I by a reciprocating feed bar extending .longitudinally of the entire machine, as viewed in Fig. 1 and provided with the usual spring pressed feed dogs. This feed bar is reciprocated by a head 92 connected by rod 93 to a lever 94 pivoted on the frame at 95. The lower end of the lever 94 is connected by the connecting rod 96 with a crank pin 91, carried by bevelled gear 99 driven by the motor shaft.

The cam 44 contactsa cam follower which is carried on one end of a lever 99 pivoted on a trunnion IN and connected to a push rod I02 which, through a suitable mechanism, the details of which do not form a, part of the invention, lifts the stack of can ends carried by the hopper to assist the feed bar fingers in disengaging the bottom can end from the stack of can ends in the hopper 9|. In the step by'step movement the can ends are fed one at a time by the feed dogs into the position where they are to receive compound from the transfer dies. Each can end when positioned for receiving compound is disposed ,over a lifting bed plate I03 provided with a' central passage I04 through which the feed bar I05 extends. At one side of the bed plate I03 is a stationary guide plate I06 and at the opposite side is a movable guide plate I01 which is so spaced relatively to the plate I06 that when a can end moves into position the plate I01 willbe pushed to the left, as viewed in Fig. 4, by the can end. As the plate I01 moves outwardly it swings the latch I08 into inoperative position as shown in Fig. 4 to prevent it from engaging the stationary ledge I09 and locking the bed against rising movements for a purpose later explained.

The bed plate is normally lifted by the cross head 14 through an adjustable abutment screw III positioned to be brought into engagement with a floating pin II2 which raises the spring retaining collar H3 and compresses the spring I I4 against a stationary portion I I5 of the-frame. The floating pin I I2 in its upward travel will compress another spring IIB which is carried in a shank II1 extending downwardly from the bed plate I03. Upon sufiicient compression of .the spring I I6 the bed plate will be lifted to raise the can end into contact with the aligned transfer die carrying the sealing compound. By substituting one spring IIS for another and by adjustment of the set screw III the pressure with which the can end is pressed against the transfer die may be regulated to ensure transfer of the compound to the can end without being extruded from its proper location by excessive pressure. As soon as the transfer of compound has been completed the cross head moves downwardly, the pins 33 (see Fig. 12) separate the treated can end from the die and the feed bar will move the treated can end off the bed plate and bring a new can end into position for the next operation. At this time the transfer die which has treated the previous can end will be moved back to a positionover its own compound tank and Will there receive an application of comparts during assembly or partial disassembly of ,the machine.

Reference to Fig; '1 will show that the entering and trailing edges of the can end guide members I 06 and I01 are bevelled slightly to facilitate passage of the can ends and the movable guide plate I01 is resiliently held by springs I2I. The latch I08 is itself subject to the action of the spring I22 whose function is obvious. Should there be a failure in the supply of can ends moving toward the bed plate I03 while the machine is operating, the guide I01 will not be pushed outwardly, hence the dog I08 as it rises will engage the ledge I09 and prevent the bed plate from rising into aposition where it would be smeared with the compound carried by the transfer die then in registration therewith. The floating pin II2 will, of course, be lifted by the cross head but will merely slide up inside the bed plate shank H1. The locked position of the bed plate is shown best in Fig. 8.

The bed plate is additionally guided in its vertical movement's by the guide pin I23 projecting downwardly from the bed plate through a guide aperture in the frame member I24. (See Fig. 9).

The can ends are fed along the guideway-consisting of bars I25 (Fig. 3) by the feed dogs I25 carried by the reciprocatory feed bar I05 in the usual manner.

.It has been the customary prior practice to apply the compound to the bottom faces of the can end flanges, but my invention contemplates feeding the can ends in inverted position and applying the compound to the upper face so that there will be no tendency for the compound to drip off the end or to be smeared over the supports on which the ends are carried. After the compound has been applied, and applied accurately in measured amounts as is possible by means of the use of the present invention, the compound then must be dried quickly in order to attain high speed production.

The next step therefore in accordance with this invention is to make it possible to so stack the can ends for drying that the compound on one will not smear upon another can end. Accordingly the feed bar carries the treated can ends over to the machine, generally indicated as I21, which curls the edges of each can end flange upwardly as a preliminary step tothe subsequent sealing operations and for the immediate purpose of enabling the can ends to be stacked, the curled edge protecting the compound on adjacent can ends from being smeared. The details of construction of the machine for forming the curled edge on the can end does not form a part of this invention as machines of this character are well known'in the art. One may use the type of seaming machine that is shown inmy prior U. S. Patent No. 1,752,328 which issued April 1,, 1930, employing twoor more seaming rollers shaped to produce the curled edge shown in Fig. 13, instead of a complete double seam. It is suflicient'to say that the rollers I29 curl the edges of the can end to form a raised rim around the flanges to which the compound has been applied. After each can end is curled it is fed into the bottom of the stacking magazine I29 where the ends are stacked for convenient removal to the drying room.

Fig. 13 shows a small upward curled edge I 3| which is thus provided on each can end prior to able the ends to be stacked without smearing the compound onto adjacent ends or onto the machine and also facilitate the initial seaming operation of the double seaming rolls.

It should be understood that the present specification and drawings explain the nature of the invention by illustrating it in one preferred embodiment, but that the invention is susceptible of being modified in its various features and embodied in constructions which may differ in various respects from the disclosed embodiment.

While the apparatus shown is particularly designed for treatment of rectangular can ends it is, of course, obvious that it may be used also for circular can ends and is readily adaptable for the handling of many sizes as well as the different customary shapes.

Having shown and described my invention, I claim:

1. In a compound applying machine, means for feeding can ends therethrough with the flanged surfaces thereof which are to be lined facing upwardly, a transfer die having downwardly facing compound retaining surfaces, means for applying measured quantities of liquid lining compound to said transfer die, means arranged for lifting a can end into contact with said die after each said application of compound, and means for preventing the operation of said lifting means upon failure of the feeding means to supply a can end thereto.

2. In a compound applying machine, a die having a downwardly facing surface for retaining liquid lining compound to be applied to upwardly facing surfaces of can end flanges, means for supporting the can ends firmly during application of the compound by said die, means for feeding can ends to the supporting means, means for raising said supporting means for effecting contact of said upwardly facing can end flanges with the compound on said die, and means for interrupting the action of said raising means upon failure of the supply from said can end feeding means.

3. In a compound applying machine, means fo feeding can ends in succession through the machine, liquid compound containing tanks on opposite sides of the path of travel of said can ends, a plurality of transfer dies having downwardly facing compound retaining surfaces for applying compound to upwardly facing surfaces of the can ends, means for reciprocating each die between said path and one of the tanks, and applicators for applying compound from said tanks to said dies.

4. In a compound applying machine, means for feeding can ends in a horizontal path with the flanged surfaces thereof to which lining compound is to be applied facing upwardly, a stationary liquid lining compound tank located at one side of said path, a transfer die for applying the compound to said surfaces, means for reciprocating said die horizontally between positions above said path and above said tank, means for raising can ends to contact compound carried on said die, and an applicator vertically reciprocable and immersible in said compound for applying compound to said die.

5. In a compound applying machine, means for, feeding can ends in a horizontal path, a compound tank at one side of said path, a transfer die and means for reciprocating it horizontally from above said path to above said tank, an applicator immersible in said tank vertically reciprocable for applying compound to said die,

and means for raising can end flanges into contact with the compound deposited on said die.

6. In a compound applying machine, means for feeding can ends in a path through the machine, compound tanks on opposite sides of said path, a pair of transfer dies each having a. downwardly facing surface for applying a lining compound to can end flanges, means for reciprocating each die between said path and one of the tanks, and vertically reciprocable applicators immersible in said tanks for applying compound to said dies.

'7. In a compound applying machine, means for feeding can ends in a path through the machine, compound tanks on opposite sides of said path, a pair of transfer dies each having a downwardly facing surface for applying compound to can end flanges, means for reciprocating each die between said path and one of the tanks, means for lifting can ends successively into contact with alternate dies, and vertically reciprocable applicators immersible in said tanks for applying compound to said dies.

8. In a compound applying machine, means for feeding can ends step by step in a path through said machine, compound tanks on opposite sides of said path, a plurality of dies each shaped for applying a compound to, upwardly facing can end flanges, means for reciprocating said dies between positions above said path and above said tanks, applicators immersible in said tanks vertically reciprocable for applying compound to said dies, means for raising can ends from said path into contact with the compound on said dies, and driving means connected with the aforesaid means arranged for raising the applicators and can ends simultaneously.

9. In a compound applying machine, a die having a downwardly facing ridge for applying compound to an upwardly facing can end flange, an upwardly opening compound tank, an applicator immersible in the compound in said tank for raising compound to said die, vertically reciprocable means for reciprocating said applicator connected thereto and extending below said tank without passing through the compound carried thereby, a lining station, and means for reciprocating said die from the lining station to a position above said tank.

10. In a compound applying machine, means for feeding can ends through the machine with the flanged surfaces thereof which are to be lined facing upwardly, a transfer die having downwardly facing compound retaining surfaces,

- a compound tank at one side of the feed line of said can ends, an applicator immersible in said tank and liftable for applying compound to the bottom of said die, means driven from below said tank and passing around and not through the compound therein supporting said applicator and reciprocating it vertically, means for reciprocating said die horizontally from above said feed line to a position above said tank, and means for lifting can ends into contact with the compound on said die.

11. In a compound applying machine, means for feeding can ends through the machine with the flanged surfaces thereof which are to be lined facing upwardly, a transfer die having downwardly facing compound retaining surfaces, a compound tank at one side of the feed line of said can ends, an applicator immersible in said tank and liftable for applying compound to the bottom of said die, means driven from below said tank and passing around and not through the compound therein supporting said applicator and reciprocating it vertically, means for reciprocating said die horizontally from above said feed line to a position above said tank, means for lifting can ends into contact with the compound on said die, and means for preventing operation of said can end lifting means upon failure of the feeding means to supply a can end thereto.

12. A compound applying machine comprising means for advancing can ends through the machine, a plastic compound tank mounted laterally of the path of travel of the ends, a compound transferrer, an applicator for applying compound from the tank to said transferrer, means for reciprocating the transferrer to position the same alternately in vertical alignment with said applicator and a can end, and means for alternately lifting said applicator and a can end into cooperative relation with said transferrer.

13. A compound applying machine comprising means for advancing can ends in a right line face upwardly through the machine, a plastic compound tank mounted laterally of the path of travel ofthe ends, a transferrer, means for horizontally reciprocating said transferrer to position the same alternately above said tank and above an advanced end, means for applying compound from said tank to said transferrer, and means for causing transfer of compound from said transferrer to said can end.

14. A compound applying machine comprising means for advancing can ends through the machine, a pair of plastic compound tanks mounted at opposite-sides of the path of travel of the ends, a horizontally reciprocable transferrer comprising a pair of dies each movable from a position above the path of travel of the ends to a position over its respective tank, means for lifting can ends into engagement with said dies in alternation to receive compound therefrom, and means for applying compound from said tanks alternately to said dies.

15. In a machine for operating upon can ends, the combination of compound applying mechanism including an applicator and means for bringing said applicator into cooperative relation with successively positioned can ends, curling mechanism including means for successively curling the ends to which compound has been applied, stacking mechanism for arranging the curled ends in superposed relation, a conveying device for conveying can ends face upwardly in horizontal position to said mechanisms in succession, and means for operating said mechanisms and conveying device.

CAMERON. 

